TAMESIDE Council is set to dispose of land that could enable the redevelopment of Droylsden town centre.
The authority stands to receive £200,000 for the area its market used to stand on, which has been used as a car park in recent years.
That, along with an area behind Queens Walk, will be handed directly to New Era Properties, who own the neighbouring shopping centre – possibly speeding up the development process.
That may see a fast food restaurant, apartments or both placed in that area.
Documents for the meeting of Tameside Council’s executive cabinet on Wednesday, December 20 state: “The council owns a large area of land to the rear of the Concord Suite, which currently provides car parking and ancillary circulation space for the shopping centre.
“It is proposed to seek approval to declare two plots within this ownership surplus to council requirements, in order to facilitate development for regeneration by the head-tenant of the shopping centre.
“New Era has recently secured planning permission for the development of ‘new Class E Retail and Sui Generis Food Outlet units’ which is reliant on acquiring the subject site to support delivery.
“It does not include the Concord Suite, which was declared surplus by Executive Cabinet in September 2020.
“New Era Properties Ltd have also expressed an interest in acquiring the car park site, in order to develop either a fast food restaurant or some residential apartments (or a combination of both).
“By declaring these sites surplus, it is anticipated the additional retail units, fronting on to the retained council car park would increase footfall and support the viability of the shopping centre in the long-term.
“It will also assist negotiations with New Era properties over discussions on the future of the shopping centre and discussions on their acquiring the former Concord Suite.
“Officers are not seeking at this stage to transact with any other party than New Era Properties, as both sites are subject to separate agreements with New Era on part of each.”
Tameside Council also hopes to receive £400,000 for an area of land at the junction of Droylsden’s Ashton Hill Lane and Market Street, next to the Lazy Toad.
Currently, it is used as a car park for the pub and two rights of way to nearby residential properties who use the council’s land for vehicular access to their rear garden.
The land also comprises an area of unadopted road, which currently provides access to the health centre at Market Street.
Documents add: “The land is thought to be suitable for a wide range of uses, including residential and retail development.
“Prior to commencing marketing, it is recommended that an approach to the GP’s surgery is made to forewarn them of the potential disposal, to ensure they are aware of its proposed disposal, as they may wish to acquire part.”
Elsewhere in Droylsden, Tameside Council believes it can secure £750,000 for land at Moorcroft Street, which is currently being leased to the Cadets.
Documents continue: “The adjoining Market Street Medical Practice have expressed an interest in acquiring both sites in order to develop an extension to their existing medical facility.”
There is no mention of additional parking as droylsden residents often use the land near the Lazy Toad which isn’t the best to park on due to the poor ground condition. Also the traffic through Droylsden is excessive already and it takes more than 25 minutes from Littlemoss to get through Market Street lights . This has never been so bad. It’s good to hear about investment and improvements for Droylsden but please consider the infrastructure.
Already looks better without the telephone masts on top of the concord haha
I’m hoping the proposed masterplan will take into account the many small seperate areas such as those listed to develop a coherent and workable town centre that can give it the framework to grow. The current layout with market street concord suite tesco and areas around the canal all need to work together and an obvious issue would be location of accessible parking whilst maximising retail and open access spaces. Could tescos parking be opened up to serve the whole town centre. Also many of the units on market street towards Fairfield just look completely scruffy and ill-fitting so hope this an be addressed in some way.
So the council are giving away land which could very well become a macdonalds or similar. Defo nothing to see here
Shame the electric substation shown on the picture couldnt be moved to a less prominent location
Great crying out for a fast food outlet, the monies made on land sale can then be spent on Ashton
This is exactly what’s happening the council have no interest in developing droylsden so will sell as much as they can to pump money into ashton
Developing Droylsden should include a newsagency, papers can’t be bought without going to Tesco or ones stop. A decent shoeshop and a butcher would be an improvement and of course a BANK!!
I love a good bank but my wife thinks I bank too much should be more careful where I do my banking in future it’s just hard cause I’m a massive banker
You can have your say on the development of droylsden town centre here…. http://www.droylsdentowncentre.co.uk